BRD by Slab is, basically, chef Omar Rodriguez’s take on fried chicken. And for those of you who don’t know, Omar Rodriguez is the head chef at Slab, La Mer. Located next door to SMK (smoked meat kitchen) in the swanky (yet always empty) Dar Wasl Mall on Al Wasl road, BRD uses funky graphics off set by wooden tables and epoxy flooring to create (I’m surprised to say) a fun environment. I liked the fact that the restaurant has made an effort to reduce its plastic footprint, offering wooden disposal utensils instead. Also noteworthy are the gloves (unavoidably plastic) and wipes you can add to your tray when collecting your food – they are to protect you from the ooey gooey mess you are going to encounter.
Using those gloves isn’t such a bad idea; BRD fried chicken burgers are so overloaded with cheese and sauce there is literally no way of avoiding a (gushing) lava flow. But it’s the super-crunchy fried chicken which is the centrepiece of each of their burgers. Soheil and I tried their best selling Sando and were (surprisingly) encouraged to add even more cheese (at an extra AED5). It’s very, very good. Almost as good as the chicken sando at Pickl in JLT.
We also tried their wings and tenders, half in wet n glaze sauce and the other half, dusted in chili spic. Neither of us liked the dusted ones. The wings were better, especially the sweet, sticky, slightly hot sauce but honestly, if I want good wings, there are other places I prefer. Stick to their burgers. Oh, and if you’re ordering fries, think twice before ordering the Yard Fries – they’re smothered in sauce to the point of yuck.
A bite of their wings 
Sando 
The tray
Service is definitely a BRD strong point. The staff are friendly and helpful. I have only ever gone to Dar Wasl Mall to eat. First to Kishmish and then to She. I have not gone back to either. Was BRD good enough to entice me back for a repeat? I don’t think so but I will go back to try some of that amazing smoked brisket their neighbour SMK gave me and Soheil to try. That said, I think BRD is well worth a visit.
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Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.